Watch: Why Did Aniesh Choose a Mute Character for His Debut

Young actor Aniesh Reddy is making his debut as a lead actor with Itllu Arjuna, which hits theatres on November 13. Ahead of the release, he sat down with Gulte Pro’s Ram Venkat Srikar for an interesting conversation about his film, character and acting journey.

Aniesh said he always wanted to start with a fresh story that had a strong emotional connection. He wanted to play a normal boy next door rather than take up something too experimental. He feels Itllu Arjuna has the right mix of honest storytelling and commercial elements, making it a dream debut for him.

The actor plays a mute character named Arjun Prasad. He said the character’s silence and the way he expresses emotions without words instantly connected with him. According to Aniesh, this aspect also brings freshness to the screenplay, as audiences will be curious to see how Arjun reacts to different situations.

Interestingly, he was keen on finding a film on his own rather than depending on someone to launch him. He was listening to different stories when director Mahesh’s narration came his way through Venky Kudumula. The actor also revealed that they worked together for nearly a month and shot a small video to understand how the character would look on screen.

The young hero also spoke about the importance of music in a romantic film. He is particularly happy with the response to the songs by Thaman and believes the album adds great strength to the film. He feels the combination of romance, action and an honest emotional story makes Itllu Arjuna an exciting package.

Talking about his preparation, He said playing a mute character helped him understand body language and expressions better. With no dialogues to depend on, he had to work extensively on how the character communicates. He also admitted that the two year journey taught him patience, especially while dealing with delays and uncertainties.

Aniesh said connecting with audiences through Arjun’s emotions would be the biggest reward for him. He also spoke about films like Rangasthalam, Jersey, Dhruva and Sita Ramam that influenced him. With Itllu Arjuna arriving on November 13, the actor is hoping to make a memorable first impression.